Biodiversity conservation as a pillar of a national adaptation strategy

Biodiversity conservation as a

pillar for a national adaptation

strategy

14 July , 2016

NAP Expo 2016

Bonn -- Germany

Jonah Ratsimbazafy

Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar

Madagascar and

Indian subcontinent

separate

GONDWANA: 85 million years ago

Madagascar

2% of Africa

2.9% of South

and Central America

3.2% of Tropical Asia

6

Madagascar Flora

Taxonomic levels

Number Endemic

Family 180 8

Genus 1000 20%

Species 12 000 84%

9

Madagascar Insects

EXTANT FRESHWATER AND TERRESTRIAL

VERTEBRATES OF MADAGASCAR

TOTAL NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER OF PER CENT OF SPECIES ENDEMIC SPECIES ENDEMISM

BONY FISHES FROGS TURTLES LIZARDS SNAKES CROCODILES BIRDS MAMMALS

Totals NON-VOLANTS NON-VOLANTS, NON-FISHES

143

199

8

234

87

1

209

131

1012

773

630

93

197

5

229

86

0

109

119

838

719

626

65

99

63

98

99

0

52

91

83

93

99

(Goodman & Benstead, 2003, 2005)

92% endemic

LEMURS: THE MADAGASCAR’S GOOSE LAYING GOLDEN EGGS

100% endemic

Lemurs

5 family 15 genus

110 species

The single highest major primate conservation priority

18

• Deforestation • Wildfire • Invasive species • Overexploitation • Trading of wild species • Pollution

Human related activities

Biodiversity threats

Natural causes

• Climate change: frequent drought and cyclone

• Thunder, natural fire

Biodiversity threats

20

Underlying Causes

• Poverty

• Demographic pressure

• Bad governance

• Political instability

Biodiversity threats

Green & Sussman 1990

Original 1950 1973 1985

90+%

loss

Natural habitat remaining

~~ 50 – 60.000 km2 ~~

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- High level of diversity and endemism

- Continued threat and loss of biodiversity

- 34 terrestrial and 11 marine hotspots in the World, including Madagascar

Biodiversity hotspots

The Challenge Conservation in Madagascar

- Huge island with poor infrastructure - Most of the population rural, isolated, and very poor - Little or no effective government outside towns - Peaceful though politically unstable - Cyclones

But we are up to the

challenge!

Copenhagen Climate Conference December 2009

Local community involvement

Local people are first and last defence

- Especially relevant because of weak government control

- We strongly believe that the development of local capacity for conservation is essential for the future of biodiversity conservation in Madagascar.

Capacity building

36

one of the main strategies to conserve, protect and manage these threatened biodiversity

Protected areas

- an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means

The WORLD LEMUR FESTIVAL

October 28 – 29, 2016

Communicate your Results

The 5th International Prosimian Congress 2013, Ranomafana

Madagascar